Bow-rest for carriage-tops



(No Model.)

s. W'. OHILDSi BOW REST FOR CARRIAGE TOPS.

No. 470,832. Patented Mar. 15, 1.892.

l $1560., mmmum, msnmo'ron n c as in actual use.

' p UNITED STATES i PATE T OFFICE.

SAMUEL WV. OHILDS, OF OROOKED RUN, VIRGINIA.

BOW-REST FOR CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,832, dated March 15, 1892.

Application filed October 31, 1891. Serial No. 410,522. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

useful Improvements in Bow-Rests for Carriage-Tops; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accoinpanying drawings, and t0 the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of devices which are commonly known as top -props and which are designed to support the carriage-top when the same is lowered and prevent the jarring and rattling and side move ments thereof.

To this end and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in the peculiar construction and in the novel combination,arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then particularly defined in the appended claim.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in-which Figure 1 is aperspective view of my device, the same being shown as detached from the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of a carriage provided with my invention, shown Fig.3 is a vertical crosssection showing the same, the parts being shown upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a modification.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the prop, which consists simply of a strip of springsteel, which is bent at its longitudinal center to form a loop B, above which the strip is bent inwardly from either side to form the contracted portion 0, and from this point the ends of the strip are bent outwardly to form the flaring or outwardly-inclined arms D and D, between which the carriage-bow is received, as will presently appear.

E is an arm, which is secured to the rear face of the seat-back of the carriage and extends laterally therefrom. This arm generally extends for three to six inches in length and serves to receive and support the weight of the carriage-top when the same is lowered.

F is a band or clip-iron, which is adapted to be fitted over the arm E and secured thereto bymeans of a set-screw F, which is passed through the ends of the clip -iron below the lower face of the arm E. Pending from the lower face of the curved upper portion of the clip E is a lug or pin E, which passes through an opening A in the prop A and holds the same in position.

In use the prop A is placed upon the clip F, and the said clip is placed upon the arm E and moved along the same until a point in exact alignment with the top bow of the carriage top is reached and is secured at this point by tightening the set-screw. When the carriage-top is lowered, the top bow Will be received between the flaring or inclined arms D and D of the prop, and the weight of the top will cause the said arms to be forced apart against the tension of the spring material of which the prop is made, thus causing the said bow to pass the contracted portion 0, where it will be securely held against lateral play.

It is sometimes found thatin cases in which side curtains are used upon the carriage that the outer arm D of the prop is likely to interfere with the curtain, and for use in this case I provide a modified form of prop, such as I have shown in. Fig. 4 of the drawings, this modification consisting, essentially, in dispensing with the inner arm D.

It is deemed important that the parts D and F be arranged at right angles to each other and-that they be loosely held together, so that the part D may have sufficient play to prevent raising of the bow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described top-prop or support for buggy-tops, the same consisting of a strip of spring metal bent at its longitudinal center to form a loop and havinginclined upwardlyextending arms, as described, the clip F, having its 100p portion arranged at right angles to and loosely held in the loop of the said strip, means for securing the clip to the top, snp porting-arms attached to the buggy-sent, and the lug or pin E, integral with the clip and I engaging an opening in the prop A, snbstan- 10 Hall y as Cl6SC1ib6(l,;L11(l for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my sign ature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL XV. CI'IILDS. Witnesses:

\VM. J. LAoY, W. B. LACY. 

